Action
Here we have all the games in the Action Section.
Famicom Cart
Action
Goemon has to be Genki’s fave series as our star visits towns and captures alot of the Japanese spirit in them. The superb action sequences purvey the pure class of the developer. This small cart packs alot of punch.
Playstation
Action
Isometric 3D style towns with platform sections and bosses to battle in mecha suits: yes its Goemon alright. The towns as a pleasure as ever with traditional warm-hearted friendliness to welcome you. And the 3D style boss battles add another dimension to the already varied gameplay. Overall the 3D effect has been well implemented with pretty shading and the proper balance between the trade-off of gameplay and graphical glitz.
GameBoy Original
Action
Genjin, or PC Kid, enjoys to dish out a few head butts, clearly a fan of the John Otway song. Here they are used ina series of mini games: dispatching adversaries back into the pipe they just popped up from, keeping the ball moving instead of using a flipper in the pinball style mini game, or more traditional platforming. The rollercoaster level in particular shows what a well-suited hero PC Kid was to platforming, just lacking the marketing clout of Nintendo and Sega’s more renowned mascots.
Famicom Cart
Action
Japan exclusive, four wheel drive action racer with smaller cars to allow plenty of on screen action. Feels like the inspiration behind Micro machines, but don’t let Codemasters hear that. Its necessary to bash opponent vehicles off the screen and quite satisfying to do so. Especially when tuned up with a raging power up on the go.
PS2
Action
Fast and throw away fun which is easy to pick up and play and not too much character depth are the hallmarks of the Simple series. Here players are stuck in a maze and must find keys and weapons ahead of their opponent to escape first.
Mega Drive
Action
Tongue in cheek take on a battle game with close hand combat and much more hedged on the action side of the genre. Plays like a large sprite version of Cannon Fodder with Metal Slug like combatants on screen players steam into enemy, or at last to a safe spot on screen. Tactics are required, but the game eases one in gently until you find yourself grenade pin in teeth, machine gun in arm.
PS3
Action
Based in in ancient Japan, Genji really brings the Heian period to life with graphical splendor in the rich, colourful kimonos where you can make out every thread. The cut scenes are of sublime quality as the scene is set: Genji clan must once again defeat the rival Heishi clan with a seeming supernatural influence. As you’d expect from a game of rich samurai heritage the action is hack and slash, or dice and slice more appropriately with the sharp sword used and the combos soon roll off the joypad. With progress comes the opportunity to play as new characters: the slow, but powerful Benkei, the spear armed Lord, but its the nimble priestess Shizuka with her nifty grapple hook that looks most stunning. All group members must be equally protected if you don’t want the credits to roll early – one death of any member means game over. The game also utilises the systems motion sensing controller.
PS2
Action
Samurai themed action slicer set in feudal Japan from the crack Capcom break away unit Game Republic. Captures the essence of the period beautifully in the graphics, musical score and presentation and shows great promise from those old Onimusha hands.
PS2
Action
Samurai themed action slicer set in feudal Japan from the crack Capcom break away unit Game Republic. Captures the essence of the period beautifully in the graphics, musical score and presentation and shows great promise from those old Onimusha hands.
GameBoy Original
Action
HAL always gets to grips with the architecture of its chosen hardware and it fits like a glove, as well suited as the Ghostbusters team are to their Gothic HQ. Said team are well represented on the small screen and instantly recognisable as they go about taking down the supernatural around New York city whilst avoiding excess exoplasm.
PSP
Action
Humongous, huge monsters require equally monstrously proportioned weapons to slice at them in this action themed series with anime overtures and J pop soundtracks making it a well-respected series.
Gamecube
Action
Brings back warm memories of Rampage as the kaiju get to toss around boulders, buildings and fellow monsters to destroy opponents, usually the city gets flattened too.
Famicom Cart
Action
Godzilla towers on screen, swinging arms wildly to progress through the levels against a brutal barrage of projectiles. A good kaijyuu scrap awaits at the end of level. Some sections are played in the style of horizontal scrolling shooting with Mothra taking centre stage.
Famicom Cart
Action
Sequel to the cracking retro blast as players bound around on screen with a bold palette, funky tunes and full on action gameplay. Bombs are dropped to reveal items to help progress whilst avoiding the mice and the hot pursuit of the gun wielding authorities. A superb license that shouldn’t be missed.
Gamecube
Action
A highly collectable GameCube title that combines Virtua On with the action of Power Stone and throws in a spot of Danball Senki. Players have their own robot persona and the colour and speed of gameplay, blending the boundaries of anime and gaming, make it easy to see why it has such a popular status. Sometimes known as Gatcha Force.
PS2
Action
Teaching gamers some street phrases of language comes the Japanese version of GTA with Liberty City as inviting as ever. Literally lose yourself in the myriad of missions and potential threads through the city where if you think it, most times it can be pulled off. Cruising with the radio on full blast remains a real treat and players soon develop a penchant for particular vehicles. Full of the city grime in parts, you can’t help but admire its boldness.
PS2
Action
A release on the Japanese PS2 of the bad boy street life sim fresh from the PSP. The underground activities are starting to shake the very foundations of Liberty City such are their seismic proportions. Getting involved in a few more tremors shouldn’t hurt anyone.
Sega Saturn
Action
A charge through the 3D levels to grab the flags utilising spare blocks to get across the solid platforms. Plenty of power ups to spice up the action and a fine level of 3D for a console that is meant to struggle with it.
Sega Saturn
Action
One of both Treasure’s and the Saturn’s jewels in the crown with the Saturn effortlessly throwing giant sprites around like Big Daddy and Treasure’s programming entering an even higher echelon. A true delight to behold.
PS3
Action
Hack and slash through hordes of mechas as the stirring Gundam soundtrack once again kicks in. Excellent use of lighting adding to the marvel of the meticulous special moves that are applied to the cannon fodder. Use of the head up display brings in plenty of conversations with the series protagonists adding infinitely to the atmosphere with there ‘Battle of the Planet’ retro-style avatars and reminiscent of the seminal Cybernator on the SFC. Of course its possible to transform into a ship to banish a batch of mecha foot soldiers to vehicle Valhalla.
Gamecube
Action
A GameCube exclusive combining Battle of the Planet style avatars and massive mecha battles. A cool head is required in the cockpit when the intense battles are at their most furious. Also known as Senshitachi no Kiseki.
PS2
Action
Gundam mecha robots battle it out using the Seed power up to inflict some serious paintwork damage on opponents. A real host of mechs are selectable in the versus mode with extras only accessible by first unlocking them. The presentation, graphical look and soundtrack with voice overs all reflect the immense proportions of the Gundam series and are suitably slick.
PS2
Action
Frantic battles and laser strafe disturbs the still of space. And that’s before the shouts of distress of the Gundam avatars is taken into account. Fast paced shooting action for those who like their space confrontations on the epic scale.
PS2
Action
A very tasty Gundam experience with over fifty maddened machines ripping hunks of steel out of each other. The two player mode is very nice and reminiscent of Virtua On in parts. Plus the all action single player mode has great gameplay backed up by the slick production values of possibly the finest anime series in the world?
Sega Saturn
Action
Booming Bond song in a karaoke style announces the arrival of the big budget Gundam juggernaut with slick intro with high production values evident in the nostalgic anime intro. The action is perfectly accessible as hulking mechs smash chunks out of each other following some suitably heated avatar exchange.
Nintendo DS
Action
The name of the title comes from the creator of the GameBoy and Wonderswan Gunpei Yokoi, but there is little here to compare with the Wonderswan incarnation as Bandai gives the DS version a really vibrant, super fly-fresh overhaul and deeply dippy dub club soundtrack.. As with all good puzzlers the premise is simple: link up the lines. And the DS stylus fits the bill perfectly. Known in Japan as Oto o Tsunagou Gunpey Reverse.
Mega CD
Action
A pack in title for the launch of the Mega CD which was only released in CD format in Japan. The action involves wrestling fellow mech for supremacy in a myopic future.
Playstation
Action
Charlie must tweak switches and jump through doughnut hoops to complete the rendered puzzle level and bear the bad egg boss. Known as Eggs of Steel in the West.
Super Famicom
Action
Players observe Pacman going about his daily routine and must help him by firing a catapult to prevent, for example, a cat pinching his hot-dog or the toilet door whacking him in the face. Good, clean fun.
PS2
Action
Eidos goes out on a limb to show the Tomb Raider developers diversity in creating an almost Nintendo-esque shepherding game. Animals need guiding back to their pen, but certain creatures will sink in water or be unable to jump adding to the lateral thinking of the shepherd. Very enjoyable and underrated.